2024 Speakers, Day 2 – Communities

Keynote Showcase 2024
Day 1
Day 2
At A Glance
Adrian Hernandez

Adrian Hernandez

Chair & Acting Executive Director
State of Texas Alliance for Recycling
Ruth Abbe

Ruth Abbe

President
Zero Waste USA
Youpa Stein

Youpa Stein

Organizer
MT Plastic Free
Kathi Mirza

Kathi Mirza

Branch Chief, Municipal Waste Reduction Program
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
David Merrill

David Merrill

Project Director
Climate North Star
Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski

Textile Artist
Sew Loka
Jay Bassett

Jay Bassett

Past-Chair
National Recycling Coalition
Jenna Deane

Jenna Deane

Program Director
Sustainable Connections
Gary Liss

Gary Liss

Principal
Zero Waste Associates
Sophie Hague

Sophie Hague

Founder
Positive Phee
Jamala Djinn, Ph.D.

Jamala Djinn, Ph.D.

Policy Advisor
Break Free From Plastic
Ainara Calahorra Romillo

Ainara Calahorra Romillo

Founder and Maker
MuXu Creations
Jeremy Drake

Jeremy Drake

Principal
Strategy Zero Waste Solutions
Madeline Kaufman

Madeline Kaufman

Program Director
Debris Free Oceans
Macy Zander

Macy Zander

Local Reuse Manager
Upstream
Simone Chhut

Simone Chhut

Zero Waste Specialist
Nashville Waste Services
Melissa Mello

Melissa Mello

Owner
Material Happiness
Daniela Ochoa González

Daniela Ochoa González

Founder
Regenerative Solutions
Nena Shaw

Nena Shaw

Director
Resource Conservation & Sustainability Division, US EPA
Erica Jung

Erica Jung

Co-Founder
DegrowNYC
Stephanie Phillips

Stephanie Phillips

Senior Manager, Deconstruction & Circular Economy
City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation
Sherry Bell Surrette, Ph.D.

Sherry Bell Surrette, Ph.D.

Associate Extension Professor
Mississippi State University
Emin Israfil

Emin Israfil

CEO
Rubbish
Nathan Alley

Nathan Alley

Conservation Program Coordinator
Sierra Club
Sedat Gundogdu

Sedat Gundogdu

Prof. Dr.
Çukurova University/Microplastic Research Group
Dennis Uyat

Dennis Uyat

Program Committee
Zero Waste USA
Zach Shaben

Zach Shaben

Public Affairs Manager - US & Canada
Too Good To Go
MacKenzie Marcelin

MacKenzie Marcelin

Climate Justice Director
Florida Rising
Margaret Rachel

Margaret Rachel

Founder
Climate Conscious Generation
Romi Rossel

Romi Rossel

Co-Founder & Marketing Director
The Bountiful Bag
Apurva Singh

Apurva Singh

Researcher
Metabolic
Jenn Harrman

Jenn Harrman

Zero Waste Program Manager
Metro Nashville Waste Services
Nora Goldstein

Nora Goldstein

Editor
BioCycle
Steve Jewett

Steve Jewett

Founder
Clean Trails / National CleanUp Day
Atiq Zaman

Atiq Zaman

Associate Professor
Curtin University
Marilee Movius

Marilee Movius

Senior Community Engagement Manager
League to Save Lake Tahoe / Keep Tahoe Blue
Hayden Sloan

Hayden Sloan

Strategic Director of Communications
Race to Zero Waste
Annette Poliwka

Annette Poliwka

Board Member
League to Save Lake Tahoe (aka, Keep Tahoe Blue)
Kirstie Pecci

Kirstie Pecci

Executive Director
Just Zero
Elizabeth Balkan

Elizabeth Balkan

Director, North America
Reloop
Fernando Gabriel Ramírez

Fernando Gabriel Ramírez

Founding Member
Fundación Héroes del Medio Ambiente
Daniella Menendez

Daniella Menendez

Outreach Coordinator
Race to Zero Waste
Amanda Rice Waddle

Amanda Rice Waddle

Director of Zero Waste
The Repurpose Project
Aditi (Adi) Varshneya

Aditi (Adi) Varshneya

Network Development Manager
GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives)
Richard Ramcharitar

Richard Ramcharitar

Lead Organizer
Broward Clean Air
KT Morelli

KT Morelli

Organizer
Breathe Free Detroit
Teresa Bradley

Teresa Bradley

CEO
Race to Zero Waste
Bianca Lopez

Bianca Lopez

Co-Founder/Project Director
Valley Improvement Projects
Katie Fitzhugh

Katie Fitzhugh

Interim Executive Director & Director of Deconstruction
Re:Purpose Savannah
Stacy Savage

Stacy Savage

Founder & CEO
Zero Waste Strategies LLC
Carla Daniela

Carla Daniela

Wedding Dress Tailor
Tailor Love
Richard Anthony

Richard Anthony

President
Zero Waste International Alliance
Samuel McMullen

Samuel McMullen

Executive Director
ZeroWaste.Org
Erin Girard

Erin Girard

Waste Diversion Outreach & Technical Specialist
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
JoAnn Gemenden

JoAnn Gemenden

Executive Director
NJ Clean Communities
CJ O'Brien Weddle

CJ O’Brien Weddle

Ocean Friendly Programs Manager
The Surfrider Foundation
Neil Tangri, Ph.D.

Neil Tangri, Ph.D.

Science and Policy Director
GAIA Global